Herbal Advice (prescription, vitamins, cheap, inexpensive)

[MissingNC]

We have recently purchased an herb, Valerian Root for a family member. Do any of you have experience to help us know the better brands or trusted brands to purchase? This was not cheap and we don't want to just "buy cheap". However, is there a good brand we could get more cheaply, but sticking with quality, as we really need this to work. Trying to avoid prescription medicine. What we got was $25 at Whole Foods. Wal-Mart was $4, but just looking at the ingredients made me think that there was no comparison, quality wise. Am I right? Thoughts? Thanks

[Bmateo]

Originally Posted by MissingNC

we really need this to work. Trying to avoid prescription medicine....... Thoughts? Thanks

I am a proponant of alternative medicines, and especially if you can avoid a bunch of prescription stuff that might be expensive, and might also have other side effects that are almost as bad as what you are trying to cure.

That being said, I do not think you need to get your medical advice (when it comes to replacing prescribed medicines) from a forum of people who have never met you. Especially since you have not given a lot of info, but really, even if you have.

If you are just looking for a list of good places to by herbal rememdies and holistic solutions, great, this is a good place to get that, but if you are looking to get quality comparisons on medicines that you did not even list, I would caution you that this, or ANY internet forum may not be the best way...

Not trying to give you a hard time, or lecture you. Just saying that you should be careful, do your research, and make sure that YOU believe in whatever conclusions you come to, based on factual knowledge.

Good luck with your quest, I don't know if Whole Food is any better than WalMart or not, it's an unregulated product, so the answer could be anything....

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by MissingNC

We have recently purchased an herb, Valerian Root for a family member. Do any of you have experience to help us know the better brands or trusted brands to purchase? This was not cheap and we don't want to just "buy cheap". However, is there a good brand we could get more cheaply, but sticking with quality, as we really need this to work. Trying to avoid prescription medicine. What we got was $25 at Whole Foods. Wal-Mart was $4, but just looking at the ingredients made me think that there was no comparison, quality wise. Am I right? Thoughts? Thanks

I like tinctures and i like organic and i like herb-pharm products very much ... been using them for years.


Herb-Pharm

HERB-PHARM VALERIAN

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Bmateo

I am a proponant of alternative medicines, and especially if you can avoid a bunch of prescription stuff that might be expensive, and might also have other side effects that are almost as bad as what you are trying to cure.

That being said, I do not think you need to get your medical advice (when it comes to replacing prescribed medicines) from a forum of people who have never met you. Especially since you have not given a lot of info, but really, even if you have.

If you are just looking for a list of good places to by herbal rememdies and holistic solutions, great, this is a good place to get that, but if you are looking to get quality comparisons on medicines that you did not even list, I would caution you that this, or ANY internet forum may not be the best way...

Not trying to give you a hard time, or lecture you. Just saying that you should be careful, do your research, and make sure that YOU believe in whatever conclusions you come to, based on factual knowledge.

Good luck with your quest, I don't know if Whole Food is any better than WalMart or not, it's an unregulated product, so the answer could be anything....

She's just looking for a good brand of herbs.
And i wouldn't purchase any herbs from places like WalMart, CVS, etc. ... Purchasing products that are grown with good farming techniques, by growers who know what they're doing and do it with love and care and don't use pesticides, herbicides, is, despite the extra cost, worth it imo.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by MissingNC

We have recently purchased an herb, Valerian Root for a family member. Do any of you have experience to help us know the better brands or trusted brands to purchase? This was not cheap and we don't want to just "buy cheap". However, is there a good brand we could get more cheaply, but sticking with quality, as we really need this to work. Trying to avoid prescription medicine. What we got was $25 at Whole Foods. Wal-Mart was $4, but just looking at the ingredients made me think that there was no comparison, quality wise. Am I right? Thoughts? Thanks

Personally, I only buy NOW Foods vitamins. You can go to their website to find a distributor near you.

20yrsinBranson

[GrammasCabin]

I've trusted and used this herb company for years. Herbs and Natural Remedies from Penn Herb Company, Ltd.

I always buy my herbs in cut/sifted bulk form, store them in air-tight containers in the freezer 'til I'm ready to use them. You can powder your own with a coffee grinder and fill your own capsules. Or make your own tinctures & diffusions, it's so easy it's ridiculous and the cost is a fraction of what you'd pay for a "ready to take" product. That way you KNOW you're using fresh herbs that have been stored properly and you know EXACTLY what you're taking.
Valerian is a wonderful natural sedative/sleep aid, and works even better blended with skullcap. Good luck, and I'm glad you're using natural remedies before heading for the pharmasudical chemicals!

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

Personally, I only buy NOW Foods vitamins. You can go to their website to find a distributor near you.

20yrsinBranson

Actually, NOW does have pretty good supplements and they are relatively inexpensive.
This page has Valerian products by NOW and Source Naturals that look reasonably priced.
I don't know about this site as far as purchasing but you can look at the products and the prices.
Most health food stores carry both of these brands.
Valerian by NOW and Source Naturals

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by coyoteskye

Actually, NOW does have pretty good supplements and they are relatively inexpensive.
This page has Valerian products by NOW and Source Naturals that look reasonably priced.
I don't know about this site as far as purchasing but you can look at the products and the prices.
Most health food stores carry both of these brands.
Valerian by NOW and Source Naturals

While it is more convenient to buy this stuff online, I still recommend finding a local retailer. There is so substitute for being able to ask questions of a [hopefully] knowledgeable person. I don't think that there would be a big price difference.

20yrsinBranson

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson

While it is more convenient to buy this stuff online, I still recommend finding a local retailer. There is so substitute for being able to ask questions of a [hopefully] knowledgeable person. I don't think that there would be a big price difference.

20yrsinBranson

Agree.
I still like buying from "real" stores.
Also, O.P. ... someone recently recommended this book and i'll post a link to it again.
It's an excellent resource.
And any health food store that sells books (like Whole Foods) will have this one or be able to order it for you.
Or, you can buy it used from Amazon but make sure you get the most recent edition ... 4th edition.
Prescription for Nutritional Healing 4th Edition Amazon

[MissingNC]

Cyoteskye, thanks for the book recommendation. That is the type of info I was looking for. Also, Bemateo, thanks too for you honest thoughts. I would never place any weight on an online consultation, but remember, since herbs aren't regulated in any way, looking online and doing "my own" research, as you have suggested, and I believe is good advice, gets tricky when there is no real standard there. Being aware of this, it can only serve to help to at least get direction from others, info, links, websites, who know much more than myself-like you for example! You may not be an expert, and maybe you are, but I'm SURE you know more than me! We're new to this. And any experiential advice only helps me to sort through things in a little more directed fashion. All the comments were hepful. I'll be looking them up. Thanks again!